CINCINNATI — As the OHSAA girls’ basketball tournament begins this week, it’s the start toward crowning seven new state champions.

For one team, it’s a chance to prove everyone wrong after having a standout season thanks to one freshman breaking all kinds of records.

What You Need To Know

Kev’iya Parrish is averaging 39.1 points per gam, which ranks first in the state and third in the nation

She’s scored 30 or more points in 17 of the team’s 20 games 

But beyond the points, she’s helping turn a program around after many years of losing records 

In the gym at Western Hills, there aren’t many banners or trophies for state championships. But there is Yaya Parrish.

Western Hills hasn’t won a state championship in any sport in 40 years (Spectrum News/Katie Kapusta)

“That’s my spot, right there,” Parrish said after sinking a deep three-point field goal. “I don’t miss from right there.”

The freshman came to Western Hills this year to bring new energy to a Cincinnati program that was just 2-14 last year.

Parrish is averaging 39 points per game (Spectrum News/Katie Kapusta)

“I wanted to turn it around,” she said. “I just wanted to come to a school that really wasn’t that good with sports and, like, give them a name, like turn them around because I knew I could do it.”

And that she has; the team has only lost four games this season and is seeded eighth in the region.

“It definitely does feel good,” she said. “But you can’t take advantage of it. Just got to keep putting in work.”

Parrish likes that feeling; she’s broken several school records, scoring 30 or more points 17 times this season, with a season high of 54 points earlier this month. She’s first in the state and third in the country, averaging just over 39 points per game, according to MaxPreps. But she says she doesn’t keep track.

“I never be keeping track of my points for real; I just be going out there and hoopin,” she said.

Parrish says she doesn’t feel pressure, and a lot of that has to do with first-year head coach LaRonda Castleberry.

Coach Castleberry is a Western Hills grad (Spectrum News/Katie Kapusta)

“I just remind her every day, ‘You’re still a kid,5’” Castleberry said. “Everybody makes mistakes. You have three more years. We don’t even know if this is what you want to do in life.”

Castleberry began coaching Parrish in AAU last year, and as a Western Hills grad herself, she wanted to make a mark on the program.

“I know some people don’t expect Western Hills to even get past the first round,” Castleberry said. “So we’re going to try our best to get past the first one. That is a goal.”

Regardless of the points she scores, Parrish said she’s ready to show the state the new and improved Western Hills Mustangs.

“They just think we’re going to come in there, just get blown out,” Parrish said. “I feel like we could prove them wrong.”

Western Hills takes on seventh-seeded Sycamore Tuesday night.

The winner will take on either Springboro or Centerville in the district semi-finals.